Page 9

b. Exceptions to priority groups. The following are eligible for child care assistance notwithstanding waiting lists for child care services: (1) Families with protective child care needs. (2) Recipients of the family investment program or those whose earned income was taken into account in determining the needs of family investment program recipients. (3) Families that receive a state adoption subsidy for a child. (4) Families that are experiencing homelessness. (5) Licensed foster parents who need child care for foster children. c. Effect on need for service. Families approved under a priority group are not required to meet the requirements in paragraph 170.2(2)“b” except at review or redetermination. 170.2(4) Reporting changes. The parent may report any changes in circumstances affecting these eligibility requirements and changes in the choice of provider to the department worker or the PROMISE JOBS worker within ten calendar days of the change. a. If the change is timely reported within ten calendar days, the effective date of the change shall be the date when the change occurred. b. If the change is not timely reported within ten calendar days, the effective date of the change shall be the date when the change is reported to the department office or the PROMISE JOBS office. c. Exceptions. The following changes must be reported: (1) Changes in income when the family’s gross monthly income exceeds 85 percent of Iowa’s median family income. (2) A lapse in a parent’s need for service found in paragraph 170.2(2)“b” that is not temporary. (3) A change in residency outside of the state of Iowa. (4) No eligible child remains in the home. d. The department worker shall disregard any reported changes that are not required to be reported unless the change would cause the authorized units to be increased or the family copay amount to be decreased. [ARC 8506B, IAB 2/10/10, effective 3/1/10; ARC 9651B, IAB 8/10/11, effective 10/1/11; ARC 1525C, IAB 7/9/14, effective 7/1/14; ARC 1606C, IAB 9/3/14, effective 10/8/14; ARC 2555C, IAB 6/8/16, effective 7/1/16; ARC 3092C, IAB 6/7/17, effective 7/1/17; ARC 3791C, IAB 5/9/18, effective 7/1/18; ARC 4470C, IAB 6/5/19, effective 7/1/19; ARC 5035C, IAB 5/6/20, effective 7/1/20; ARC 6309C, IAB 5/4/22, effective 7/1/22; ARC 6565C, IAB 10/5/22, effective 10/1/22; ARC 6965C, IAB 4/5/23, effective 6/1/23; ARC 8741C, IAB 1/8/25, effective 2/12/25] 441—170.3(237A,239B) Application and determination of eligibility. 170.3(1) Application process. a. Application for child care assistance may be made at any local office of the department on: (1) Form 470-3624 or 470-3624(S), or (2) Form 470-4377 or 470-4377(S), when returned after the end of the certification period. b. The application may be filed by the applicant, by the applicant’s authorized representative or, when the applicant is incompetent or incapacitated, by a responsible person acting on behalf of the applicant. c. The date of application is the date a signed application form containing a legible name and address is received in the department office. An electronic or paper application delivered to a closed office is considered to be received on the first day following the day the office was last open that is not a weekend or state holiday. d. Families who are determined eligible for child care assistance shall be approved for a certification period of at least 12 months. Families who fail to complete the review and redetermination process as described at subrule 170.3(5) will lose eligibility at the end of the certification period. 170.3(2) Exceptions to application requirement. An application is not required for: a. A person who is participating in activities approved under the PROMISE JOBS program. b. Recipients of the family investment program or those whose earned income was taken into account in determining the needs of family investment program recipients. The date of application is the date the family requests child care assistance from the department. c. Children with protective needs. Human Services[441] IAC 6/10/26 Ch 170, p.9